It appears the Cincinnati Bengals are coming to their senses concerning contract negotiations with their prime pass-rusher.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Bengals have resumed contract talks with star edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson (h/t ESPN’s Ben Baby).
Hendrickson — who’s coming into the ultimate yr of a contract that can pay him $15.8M this upcoming season — has been gridlocked in contract negotiations with the group all through the offseason. He held out of obligatory minicamp and skewered the group for a scarcity of communication at OTAs.
“When there is a lack of communication in any relationship, the place it is a enterprise or a private relationship, lack of communication results in animosity, and that leaves my narrative solely to me with no clear path,” Hendrickson stated Could 13, by way of Child.
Hendrickson, 30, actually deserves a deal that will make him one of many highest-paid pass-rushers within the league.
In 4 seasons with the Bengals, he has had 57 sacks, making 4 Professional Bowls. Final season, he recorded a league-leading 17.5 sacks in 17 regular-season video games, incomes a first-team All-Professional nod.
Within the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bengals took Texas A&M edge-rusher Shemar Stewart with choose No. 17 to doubtlessly achieve extra leverage in contract negotiations with Hendrickson. Nonetheless, the group bungled this plan.
Stewart has but to signal his rookie contract due to a dispute over the deal’s language. He additionally left mandatory minicamp.
“I am 100% proper,” Stewart stated of the dispute on June 10, per The Athletic’s Sarah Jean Maher. “I am not asking nothing y’all have by no means carried out earlier than. However in y’all case, y’all simply need to win an argument as a substitute of successful extra video games.”
Signing each pass-rushers would assist the Bengals win extra video games, which they’ve struggled to do over the previous two seasons. Cincinnati went 9-8 in 2024, lacking the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
The Bengals have made a multitude of their contract conditions this offseason. However a minimum of they’ve contacted Hendrickson once more, which might assist them make amends with the defensive stud.
